diff --git a/src/anemoi/datasets/create/sources/xarray_support/time.py b/src/anemoi/datasets/create/sources/xarray_support/time.py
index 847b21598..efc1fbc31 100644
--- a/src/anemoi/datasets/create/sources/xarray_support/time.py
+++ b/src/anemoi/datasets/create/sources/xarray_support/time.py
@@ -168,8 +168,8 @@ def fill_time_metadata(self, coords_values: dict[str, Any], metadata: dict[str,
         """
         valid_datetime = coords_values[self.time_coordinate_name]
 
-        metadata["date"] = as_datetime(valid_datetime).strftime("%Y%m%d")
-        metadata["time"] = as_datetime(valid_datetime).strftime("%H%M")
+        metadata["date"] = int(as_datetime(valid_datetime).strftime("%Y%m%d"))
+        metadata["time"] = int(as_datetime(valid_datetime).strftime("%H%M"))
         metadata["step"] = 0
 
         return valid_datetime
@@ -235,8 +235,8 @@ def fill_time_metadata(self, coords_values: dict[str, Any], metadata: dict[str,
         hours = step.total_seconds() / 3600
         assert int(hours) == hours
 
-        metadata["date"] = as_datetime(base_datetime).strftime("%Y%m%d")
-        metadata["time"] = as_datetime(base_datetime).strftime("%H%M")
+        metadata["date"] = int(as_datetime(base_datetime).strftime("%Y%m%d"))
+        metadata["time"] = int(as_datetime(base_datetime).strftime("%H%M"))
         metadata["step"] = int(hours)
 
         # When date is present, it should be compatible with time and step
@@ -305,8 +305,8 @@ def fill_time_metadata(self, coords_values: dict[str, Any], metadata: dict[str,
         hours = step.total_seconds() / 3600
         assert int(hours) == hours
 
-        metadata["date"] = as_datetime(base_datetime).strftime("%Y%m%d")
-        metadata["time"] = as_datetime(base_datetime).strftime("%H%M")
+        metadata["date"] = int(as_datetime(base_datetime).strftime("%Y%m%d"))
+        metadata["time"] = int(as_datetime(base_datetime).strftime("%H%M"))
         metadata["step"] = int(hours)
 
         return valid_datetime
@@ -362,8 +362,8 @@ def fill_time_metadata(self, coords_values: dict[str, Any], metadata: dict[str,
         step = coords_values[self.step_coordinate_name]
         assert isinstance(step, datetime.timedelta)
 
-        metadata["date"] = as_datetime(date).strftime("%Y%m%d")
-        metadata["time"] = as_datetime(date).strftime("%H%M")
+        metadata["date"] = int(as_datetime(date).strftime("%Y%m%d"))
+        metadata["time"] = int(as_datetime(date).strftime("%H%M"))
 
         hours = step.total_seconds() / 3600
 
diff --git a/tests/xarray/test_netcdf.py b/tests/xarray/test_netcdf.py
index f25d8c4d7..882b43620 100644
--- a/tests/xarray/test_netcdf.py
+++ b/tests/xarray/test_netcdf.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 import os
 
+import earthkit.data as ekd
 import xarray as xr
 from multiurl import download
 
@@ -45,6 +46,21 @@
 }
 
 
+def test_netcdf_metadata_types_compare_with_ekd():
+    ekd_fl = ekd.from_source("sample", "era5-hourly-2t-20230724T1200Z.nc")
+    ds = ekd_fl.to_xarray()
+
+    ads_fl = XarrayFieldList.from_xarray(ds)
+    assert len(ekd_fl) == len(ads_fl)
+
+    common_keys = set(ekd_fl[0].metadata().keys()) & set(ads_fl[0].metadata().keys())
+    assert {"date", "time", "variable"}.issubset(common_keys)
+
+    # check that metadata value types are the same whether going via earthkit-data or anemoi-datasets
+    for key in common_keys:
+        assert type(ekd_fl[0].metadata(key)) is type(ads_fl[0].metadata(key)), f"Type mismatch for key '{key}'"
+
+
 def skip_test_netcdf() -> None:
     """Test loading and validating various NetCDF datasets."""
     for url, checks in URLS.items():